Men who brought 100 migrants to Europe each week in ‘Tripadvisor for people smugglers’ scheme jailed

Two Men Convicted in Massive Migrant Smuggling Scheme Receive 19-Year Sentences

Two individuals, Dilshad Shamo and Ali Khdir, have received 19-year prison terms for orchestrating a large-scale people-smuggling operation. The pair, who managed to transport roughly 100 migrants to Europe every week for two years, were described by the National Crime Agency as part of a “Tripadvisor for people smugglers” network. Their activities were based out of a car wash business in Caerphilly, south Wales, which appeared legitimate on the surface.

The two men, originally from Iraqi Kurdistan, were living and working in the UK under legal status. Their operation, which involved facilitating the movement of migrants from Iraq, Iran, and Syria, extended through countries like Belarus, Moldova, and Bosnia, ultimately reaching Italy, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Germany. The National Crime Agency highlighted that they were members of a broader criminal organization, with their role in the smuggling process being a key focus of the investigation.

Throughout their operation, Shamo and Khdir offered a tiered system of services to migrants, with prices varying based on the level of assistance provided. The highest tier, platinum, included fake passports and air travel, costing between £10,000 and £25,000. Gold-tier services involved sea transport, priced at £8,000 to £10,000, while bronze-tier options, the most basic, required travel via heavy goods vehicles or dinghies across the Channel, at a cost of £3,000 to £5,000.

Notably, the smugglers encouraged migrants to rate their journeys, often through videos filmed inside lorries or boats, or via social media platforms such as Telegram and TikTok. In one clip, a man asked, “How was the route, guys?” as someone in the back of a lorry gave a thumbs-up. Another video featured an Iranian family thanking those who helped them reach Europe, saying, “God bless you, we are very grateful,” as they stood outside an airport.

Derek Evans, a National Crime Agency branch commander, likened their operation to a travel agency. “They were rating their service within the community,” he stated. The scheme was so organized that it allowed for seamless coordination across Europe, with investigators estimating that the pair may have transported over 400 individuals within six months alone.

Financing the operation relied heavily on the Hawala banking system, a Middle Eastern method of transferring funds without direct physical or electronic movement. This made it challenging for authorities to track the profits. According to the NCA, most of the money remained untraceable, with the pair’s earnings likely still in Iraq or Kurdistan.

Evans noted that while the business had some tangible assets in the UK, the majority of its financial gains were hidden through Hawala. “The tangible assets in the UK are minimal,” he explained. “Most of the money was never actually received by Shamo or Khdir—it was all done in Iraq through the Hawala system.”

Such systems, though useful for legitimate purposes, are also favored by criminals for their anonymity. HM Revenue and Customs emphasized that the ease of using Hawala and other informal value transfer systems makes them attractive for illicit activities. They urged operators to register for anti-money laundering oversight to improve transparency and accountability.